Oddly, how often you eat during pregnancy may affect your risk of having (or not having) an early labor and...

Oddly, how often you eat during pregnancy may affect your risk of having (or not having) an early labor and preterm birth. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, recently found that women who eat snacks have a lower risk of early labor than women who don't.

Tips from the study:

Frequency of eating or meal patterns during pregnancy was key. While nutrition is important of course, this study noted that eating frequency can affect labor, beyond just what you eat.

Women who consumed food less frequently in the study were also slightly heavier prior to pregnancy and had a lower total energy intake which may be more fuel as to why snacks are useful. We've been hearing for years that healthy snacks can help you maintain your weight and energy.

The Institute of Medicine says that an eating optimum schedule is three meals and two or more snacks per day.

If you're looking for healthy snacks to round out your diet take a look at the following options: